9. Such a normal thing to do

yet it won't be interpreted that way by the press or the vast wasteland of right wing conspiracy nuts.
Clearly the president is having fun with his family. The turkey is cracking them up. The presidents job, in this instance, is to absolve the turkey. What did the folks at the Examiner expect, the president to sign an official reprieve document, a presidential pardon? It would be no more serious an event. This is a silly tradition and a silly pardon is in order.
Bush "laying hands" on the bird was exactly the same thing. He was being silly too.

Now, Palin, interviewing for ten minutes, while turkeys were being slaughtered behind her, without batting an eye, was weird.
There was something vaguely Satanic about that scene.